CARIBBEAN POISON INFORMATION NETWORK THIRD ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE UHWI KINGSTON, JAMAICA MAY 31-JUNE 1,2008
The Use of Pesticides at the Farm Level The Third Annual Conference of the Caribbean Poison Information Network (CARPIN) (31 st May 1 st June, 2008) Presented by: Marina Young, Senior Plant Health / Food Safety Specialist, Technology, Training & Technical Information Division, RADA. 1 st June, 2008.
Farmers are increasingly asked to ensure the safety of their production activities Public expectations include: Offering products that present no health risk to consumers Providing for worker protection and Avoiding environmental contamination ti from pesticide use Is Persistence Bad?
What is Pesticide? id Pesticides are chemical or biochemical compounds used to kill pests.
Pesticide Toxicity The TOXICITY of a substance is defined by it s ability to cause damage when ingested by a living organism
EFFECTS OF PESTICIDE : DISTANT EFFECTS-such as consumer purchasing plants from the retail outlet DELAYED EFFECT-such as farm worker becomes ill long after pesticide exposure INVISIBLE EFFECTS-such as pesticides leaching through soil and contaminating ground water DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE & DATA IS LIMITED
PESTICIDES INSECTICIDES FUNGICIDES BACTERICIDES NEMATICIDES MOLLUSCOCIDES RODENTICIDES HERBICIDES
Classification According to the Target Pests PESTICIDE GROUP PEST Insecticides Insects Acaricides Acari (mites & ticks) Nematicides id Nematodes Molluscocides Molluscs (slugs & snails) Rodenticides Rodents (rats) Fungicides Fungi Herbicides / Weedicides Weeds
HAZARDS OF PESTICIDES Nearly all pesticides are toxic. They differ in the degree of ft toxicity. it Pesticides are potentially dangerous to people p if exposure is excessive.
Hazard Classification (According to the World Health Organization) CLASS IA:Extremely hazardous (This class of pesticides must have the words very toxic, on the label. CLASS IB: Highly Hazardous. This class of pesticides must have the word toxic on the label. CLASS II: Moderately hazardous. The word harmful must be displayed on the label. CLASS III: Slightly hazardous. These pesticides must have caution written on the label. CLASS IV: Caution
Pesticides Registered in Jamaica for Use on Agricultural Crops (2008) Pesticide category IV CAUTION Pesticide Hazard III SLIGHTLY HAZRDOUS II HARMFUL I HIGHLY HAZARDOUS FUNGICIDES 57% 35% 8% 0% HERBICIDES 43% 43% 14% 0% INSECTICIDES 32% 32% 27% 36% 5% NEMATICIDES 20% 0% 40% 40% MOLLUSCOCIDES 25% 50% 25% 0% Source: Register of Pesticides 2008, PCA.
ROUTES OF EXPOSURE TO PESTICIDES DERMAL ORAL INHALATION
ROUTES OF EXPOSURE TO PESTICIDES
Examples of Exposures
Pesticide Poisoning Symptoms Acute toxicity refers to the effects from a single exposure or repeated exposure over a short time Chronic toxicity refers to the effects of long-term or repeated lower level exposures to a toxic substance. Examples of acute poisoning may include: Dizziness, tremors, headache, nausea, cold sweat, salivation, muscle twitching, disorientation, blurred vision, tightness of chest, respiratory failure, anorexia, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps vomiting, weakness, and convulsions Examples of chronic poisoning effects may include: Carcinogenicity (ability to cause cancer), mutagenicity (ability to cause genetic damage), teratogenicity (birth defects), oncogenicity (tumor growth), liver damage, reproductive disorders, nerve damage and allergies
RADA s Pesticide Surveillance 2459 surveillance visits made (2007-2008) 2008) Practices & Strategies observed (ACCEPTABLE/ UNACCEPTABLE) Treatment basis Dosages Pesticide registration status Pre-harvest Interval (PHI) Pesticide efficacy Storage & Disposal Accidental poisoning Environmental contaminations
Summary of most often pesticide safety violations contributing to the incidences of poisoning Descriptions of violations Storage & Disposal Direct Exposure Remarks Pesticides dispensed into drinking bottles; not labeled; stored in the kitchen counters and/or in poorly secured place. Due to poor handling and use. Becoming known only in cases of acute poisoning (single exposure to the high dose) Accidental poisoning Environmental contaminations Family members, especially children (example) Difficult to document and to trace
SOME FACTORS IMPACTING ON THE INCIDENCE OF PESTICIDE POISONING Description Small farms Med. To Large Literacy rate LOW MORE EDUCATED (less likely to read pesticides labels) Physical Infrastructure (storage / disposal / security) Land resources Financial resources Ability to attract investments LUCKING CONFINED TO SMALL PARCEL OF LAND Limited LOW MORE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE LAND IS USUALLY AVAILBLE More available BETTER
PESTICIDE STORAGE
PESTICIDE STORAGE
MONITORING OF LEVELS OF CHOLENESTERAZE ACTIVITY Used for organophosphates and carbamates pesticides A cholinesterase depression of 25% or more is regarded as evidence of excessive exposure (REQUIRES INVESTIGATION) RANGE: 3200-7700 u/l NORM: 3200 AND UP Depression of more than 40% in blood cholinesterase activity from the pre-exposure exposure value indicates that worker should be removed from the further exposure Person should be treated by doctor for acute intoxication No further exposure to CIC until a further test show a blood cholinesterase activity within 20% of pre-exposure exposure value
Mas George, Gilbert & Little Sheila Story
FIRST AID
Decontamination
Poisoning & Treatment
Class Poisoning Symptoms Treatment Organochlorines (eg. Endosulphan) Dizziness, Tremors, headace, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, disorientation, respiratory failure Control convulsion with Phenobarbiton or Diazepam Organophosphoru Anorexia, Nausea, Cold lds Sweat, Administer i Atropine s compounds Salivation, Muscle twitching, Sulphate within 12 hrs. (e.g.. Diazinon, Rugby, disorientation, dilation of pupils, Pralidoxime Chlorite 1g. DDVP) blurred vision, tightness of chest, abdominal cramps, vomiting etc. Pyrethroids (e.g. Baygon, Karate, Danitol etc.) Stuffy runny nose, irritation of mouth lining, salivation, convulsive seizures, facial burning sensation Activated charcoal. Control seizures with Diazepam or Barbiturata DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Carbamates (e.g. Sevin, Furadan, Vydate L, Lannate ) Anti-coagulants (e.g. Klerat) Bipyridyls (e.g. Paraquat, Gramoxone) Similar to Organo-phosphorous but tend to appear quicker and shorter Bleeding from nose and gum, Blood in excretions. Vomiting, Nausea, Diarrhea, Renal colic etc. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea (often bloody), kidney /liver damage.. Atropine Sulphate. Induce vomiting followed drinking a suspension of activated t charcoal Induce vomiting. Administer Phytonodione (vit. K) Give gastric lavage, Fuller s earth and Mannitol. For kidney failure- use haemo dialysis
Pesticides may be classified according to: The type of pest they target; The degree of toxicity to humans, animals, and environment; Their mode of action (how they act on the pests) and, Their chemical structures.
PESTICIDE FORMULATIONS SOLIDS WETTABLE POWDERS (WP) SOLUBLE POWDERS (SP) GRANULES (G) BAITS (B) LIQUIDS EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATES (EC) SOLUTIONS (S)
Prevention of Pesticide Poisoning Reducing pesticide use through IPM/ ICM & GAPs (Role of Research & Development / Effective Extension services) Registration & use environmentally friendly pesticides; Phasing out highly toxic pesticides (Role of PCA) Public education (Requires collaboration of Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, NEPA and other agencies & NGOs )
RECOMMENDATIONS THE HOSPITALS OR DOCTOR SHOULD HAVE NECESSARY ANTIDOTES IN STOCK MEDICAL PRACTICIONERS SHOULD KNOW THE LIST OF REGISTERED PESTICIDES IN JAMAICA & TREATMENTS IN CASES OF EXPOSURE
Thank you
References Images from the Guidelines for the safe and effective use of pesticides, GIFAP, May 1983 PCA Manual